Duet in the kitchen!

   Cooking dinners during a weekend is usually "Christopher and Mommy" time. He brings a chair to the kitchen, puts it next to me so he can reach the counter, demands bunch of utensils and of course the same ingredients to work with as me (anything but onions and garlic... and raw meat of course!). He chops, he mixes, he samples, he makes a lot of mess and usually he has no problems with me trashing it at the end of it. Recently however, he became more sophisticated and he started demanding that if I take pictures of my food, I must also take pictures of his. At first I though it was just a cute joke, but he got serious pretty quick and he even insisted that he will plate and arrange his own photo-shoot (insert eye rolling emoji here)! I'm a little proud and very entertained by all of this!
   This time I made a quinoa stir-fry with chicken and veggies and Christopher made a vegetable soup, both featured below.


Ingredients:

*  2 cups dry quinoa
*  2 large carrots, sliced
*  2 small zucchini, sliced
*  4 oz mushrooms, sliced
*  2 cups broccoli heads
*  3 green onions, chopped (save a little for garnish)
*  1 lb chicken breast, cut into small, thin pieces
*  1 egg
*  2 tbsp olive oil
*  1 tbsp hoisin sauce 
*  1 tbsp honey
*  2 tbsp soy sauce
*  1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
*  1 tsp garlic powder
*  salt


Directions:

1. Cook quinoa according to the instruction on the box. Set aside.

2. In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil and add chicken with a pinch of salt. Saute for 5-10 minutes (depending on the size of the pieces) until thoroughly cooked. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

3. In the same skillet, heat the remaining olive oil (1 tbsp) until very hot. Add vegetables, season with a pinch of salt and garlic powder and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring often. Do not cook more than 5 minutes if you don't want the veggies to be mushy.

4. Make a little bit of space in the middle of the skillet, add egg and cook stirring until dry. Mix with the vegetables.

5. In a small bowl, combine hoisin sauce, honey, vinegar and soy sauce to create the sauce.

6. Add chicken and cooked quinoa to the veggies, add the sauce and mix everything until combined.

7. Sprinkle with some green onions when serving.

   As promised, I also took pictures of Christopher's "soup" and even though his knife skills have some room for improvement, given the fact that it was a butter knife (as blunt as it gets) I say he did pretty damn good! Thank God he didn't ask me to taste it, because there might have been some "floor ingredients" in the dish.

   And here is the master chef himself... very proud of his creation! We fed the soup to the birds and they loved it ... we think!

    Going back to my stir fry... it tastes as delicious as a regular rice stir fry, but the texture is different. Quinoa is a grain that people either love or hate... if you are like us and love it, you will really enjoy this dish!

Enjoy,
Magda and Christopher

Soup again!

   I almost started the post with saying that it's been a while since I posted soup recipe... and then I scrolled down and saw the pozole! Then I thought that at least it's been a while when I used mushrooms as my main ingredient.... and then I scrolled down and saw bunch of recipes with mushrooms! So guess what's on the menu today? Yes, you are right, mushroom soup! It's kind of "springy" soup with mushrooms, veggies and chicken, so it's perfect timing since we just welcomed the Spring. I wish somebody told the weather that Spring came, but than again, it's even better timing since the temperatures outside are very "soupy"! Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

* 16 oz mushrooms, chopped
* 4 celery, chopped
* 3 carrots, chopped
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 3 tbsp butter
* 4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable stock)
* 1 cup sour cream
* salt and pepper

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, melt butter and add onions, celery, mushrooms and carrots. Add a pinch of salt and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.

2. Add chicken broth, season with salt and pepper (if needed) and cook for additional 15 minutes.

3. Combine sour cream with half a cup of boiling soup and mix to combine. Add the mixture to the soup, bring to boil and remove from the heat.

   Very light and very delicious (to be honest, most soups are delicious to me). You can use any kind of vegetables you like, it just happened that I had those in the fridge and it turned out they really pair well with mushrooms.

Enjoy,
Magda

Ingredient No. 3!

   What, it's already March?! How did that happen? I understand that February is a little bit shorter than other months, but come on.... we just celebrated Valentine's Day not so long ago! Anyways, I'm a little behind with my "new ingredient a month" project (since I still live in February!), but I'm gonna make it up now. This month's ingredient might not be "exotic", it's something that many of you use every single day, but for some reason I've never cooked with it. Tomatillos - green vegetables that resemble unripe tomato in a husk. I think they are actually called "Mexican husk tomatoes".

 

   When I was searching for some interesting recipes, I saw a lot of tomatillo salsas and sauces, but I wanted something more than that, something different (not that there is anything wrong with salsa!). And then I found it: Green Pozole, made with chicken, tomatillos (duh!), hominy and herbs - it sounded delicious, it looked delicious... and it turned out delicious! 

Ingredients:

* 1 lb tomatillos
* 2 lbs chicken thighs
* 2 (15 oz) can hominy
* 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
* 4 garlic cloves, sliced
* 4 oz sunflower seeds
* 2 bay leaves
* 1 cup fresh cilantro
* 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
* 1 tbsp vegetable oil
* lime
* salt

Garnish (optional)

* red onion, sliced
* radishes, sliced
* cilantro

Directions:

1. Bring about 8 cups of water to a boil.  Add 1/2 chopped onion, 2 garlic cloves, bay leaves, and some salt. Cover the pot, and simmer for 5-10 minutes.

2. Add the whole chicken thighs and cook gently (uncovered) for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken and set aside to cool a little. Strain the broth and set it aside for later.

3. In a food processor or grinder, grind sunflower seeds until they form fine powder. Set aside.

4. In a pot, heat 3 cups water with remaining 1/2 onion, tomatillos, cilantro and oregano. Cook covered for 10 minutes, until veggies are tender. Discard the cooking liquid and place the cooked veggies into a standing blender, add remaining garlic and blend everything until smooth.

5. In a Dutch oven, heat vegetable oil, add the pureed veggies (be careful as it will splatter) and cook the sauce uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring regularly. Add the ground sunflower seeds and 1 cup of the broth reserved from cooking the chicken, stir and cook another 5 minutes.

6. Shred the chicken and add it to the sauce together with the hominy and the remaining broth (add as much as you like - depending on the thickness you want to achieve). Season with salt to taste and simmer everything for additional 5-10 minutes.

7. Serve in a bowl with sliced radishes, red onions and lime juice (you can also add avocado).

   What a cool dish! I am definitely going to make it more often (especially that my boys loved it too). It's super filling and hardy, but light and fresh at the same time. The bright and crunchy garnishes make it even "fresher". You can garnish it with all the things I mention or you can just mix and match, but if my two year old loved all of them (even the red onion!!!) you should definitely give it a try!

Enjoy,
Magda.

Freezer friendly!

   So last week I promised you an explanation of why my life is crazy busy recently. Well, here it is: we have no kitchen due to the renovation! Actually we have no kitchen (because we are getting a new one), no family room (because contractors are using it as their storage) and no dining room (because we store our kitchen and family room in it). No kitchen and a toddler - deadly combination, but I keep telling myself it's all going to be worth it at the end when I get my dream kitchen. So since our new sink is in the family room and the stove is in the dining room, there is no cooking happening for the next couple of weeks, but it is not a problem because we still have a big freezer! I was prepping for this renovation for a while, so I made bunch of freezer friendly dishes, portioned them into lunch/dinner sizes and I'm ready!
   First dish out of the freezer - cashew chicken with broccoli and raisins. It may not be the most photogenic dish, but it just came out of the freezer, so let's give it a break!

Ingredients:

* 3 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite size pieces 
* 12oz frozen chopped broccoli
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 8oz cashews
* 1 15oz can of crushed tomatoes
* 2 cups chicken broth
* 1/2 cup raisins
* 2 tbsp olive oil
* salt and pepper 

Directions:

1. In a large Dutch oven, heat the olive oil and brown chicken thighs for 2-3 minutes.

2. Add onions and raisins, season with a little bit of salt and pepper and cook for 2 minutes. Add chicken broth and cook for 15 minutes.

3. In a food processor, combine cashews and crushed tomatoes and blend until it forms a smooth paste.

4. Add to the chicken and cook for additional 15-20 minutes, stirring from time to time.

5. If the chicken is tender, add frozen broccoli, adjust seasoning to your liking and cook for additional 5 minutes. Serve over rice.

   Delicious! Tender chicken, sweet raisins and creamy cashew sauce. You can freeze it by itself, you can freeze it together with the rice, or you can just not freeze it at all!

Enjoy,
Magda.

Changing things up.

   We love spaghetti! No, seriously... we probably eat it every other week! So to keep it interesting I always keep changing things up - different types of meat, different types of pasta, different types of seasoning, or just some extra ingredients. This time I made zucchini-tomato sauce with ground chicken. Light, healthy, delicious... and if paired with the right pasta, absolutely guilt free! Extra bonus - hidden veggies, just in case my boys wouldn't want to eat any! I shredded the zucchini, so they had absolutely no idea what they are eating and how healthy it is (just in case they didn't feel like eating "healthy"). Here is the recipe:


Ingredients:

* 1 lb ground chicken
* 1 large zucchini, finely shredded
* 1 24oz can crushed tomatoes
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 2 tbsp ketchup
* 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
* 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
* 1 tbs dry oregano
* 1 tbsp olive oil
* salt and pepper

Directions:

1. In a large sauce pan, heat the olive oil and saute onions with a little bit of salt for 5 minutes.

2. Add ground chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes until no longer pink.

3. Add shredded zucchini, crushed tomatoes, ketchup, dry oregano, season with salt and pepper and cook for 10 minutes stirring from time to time. Add fresh basil and parsley, and serve with pasta.

   Fresh basil and parsley really elevates this dish! Justin's first question was: what did you add to the sauce, zucchini? So that was it for "hiding" the veggies, but he cleaned his plate anyways, so the plan worked!

Enjoy,
Magda

Almost traditional!

   Here is another post about the dish that I love to eat, but somehow never made it myself before! Chicken Marsala... delicious Italian dish featuring one of my favorite ingredients - mushrooms! I was craving Italian food for a while, so when we invited our friends for dinner the other day, I knew I would be making something Italian (and it just happens that my friend loves Italian food as well). I kind of wanted to stick to the traditional recipe and not change it too much, but I had to make one small adjustment... I didn't dredge the chicken breast in flour. Why add extra carbs and also, Christopher is not a fan of breaded meat, so I didn't want to risk him not wanting to eat it. Well, it turned out that he preferred mushrooms over the meat anyways, so I would probably get away with it! Maybe next time!
Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

* 4 thin chicken breasts
* 16oz crimini mushroom, sliced
* 1 medium onion, finely chopped
* 1 cup Marsala wine (dry)
* 1 cup chicken stock
* 3 tbsp butter
* 2 tbsp olive oil
* 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
* salt and pepper 

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter and sear the meat for 5 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside.

2. Add onions  and mushrooms to the remaining oil and butter in the pan, season with salt and pepper and saute for 6-7 minutes until all the moisture evaporates.

3. Add Marsala wine to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes to cook out all the alcohol. Add chicken stock and simmer for 5-6 minutes to reduce the sauce.

4. Returned chicken breast to the pan, cover it with the sauce and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Add fresh parsley, season with salt and pepper if necessary and it's ready to serve. 

   Such a simple, but flavorful dish! Marsala wine gives it a little bit of a tang, mushrooms give it some comfort (at least to me) and earthiness... I could probably just drink the sauce by a glass, no kidding! Christopher was at the same page, because he skipped the meat all together and just ate mushrooms and the sauce... like mother like son!

Enjoy,
Magda.

Summer soup.

   Yes, it's a soup recipe in the middle of summer, that's right! I can't help it that I love soups so much and I absolutely do not consider it to be a "winter dish"! Justin is not really a fan of soups, he just doesn't consider it as a "meal", so to encourage him to have a bowl, I need to find one that is full of meat and his favorite flavors! Tortilla soup - chunky, full of tender chicken and Mexican flavors, I knew he won't be able to resist and I was right! Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

* 2 large chicken breasts
* 1 15oz can of black beans,  drained and rinsed
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 1 garlic clove, minced
* 1 cup frozen corn
* 1 cup fresh cilantro
* 1 15oz fire roasted diced tomatoes
* 1 cup tomato sauce

* 1 tsp ground cumin
* 0.5 - 1 tsp chili powder (depending on how spice you want it to be)
* 1 tsp paprika
* salt and pepper

Garnish:
* tortilla strips
* sour cream


Directions:

1. In a large pot, cook chicken breast in salted water until soft - 45-60 minutes.

2. Take the chicken out of the water, let it cool for few minutes and shred it.

3. In the meantime, to the remaining water add onions, garlic, corn, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Bring to boil and add spices (cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt and pepper).

4. Cook everything for 15 minutes, add shredded chicken and cilantro and cook for additional 15 minutes.

5. Serve garnished with sour cream and tortilla strips.

   Delicious! You can adjust spiciness to your liking, since I am not a fan of spicy food I just added a little bit of chili powder, but feel free to "spice things up"!

Enjoy,
Magda

Cravings.

   I've been craving Indian food for a while now but somehow every time we go out we end up anywhere but an Indian restaurant. So I got tired of waiting and decided to take matters in my own hands and make my own chicken korma (favorite Indian dish ever). Delicious and tender chicken, creamy and flavorful sauce (made out of my favorite nuts - cashews) and wonderful aroma of all the spices. It's a serious dish and it's very hard to stick to only one serving! It really was a hit in our house, my husband loved it (and probably ate half of it by the time I was done taking pictures for the blog) and Christopher devoured his first Indian dish like a pro!
   Recipe makes ... probably anything from 4 to 8 portions, depending on how much you love Indian food.

Ingredients:

* 4 chicken breasts
* 1 large onion
* 2 garlic cloves
* 5oz cashew nuts
* 1 cup milk
* 15oz tomato puree
* 6oz plain Greek yogurt
* 3 tbsp olive oil
* cilantro for garnish

Spices:
*1 tsp of each:
   - turmeric powder
   - garam masala
   - coriander powder
   - cardamom powder
   - ground ginger
   - curry powder
   - salt
* pinch of cinnamon

Directions:

1. Place coarsely chopped onion and garlic in the food processor and blend until pureed. Transfer into non-stick pan and cook for 5-6 minutes.
2. In the meantime, combine all the spices in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Add cubed chicken breast and toss everything until every piece of chicken is coated with spices.
3. In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil and add spiced chicken. Cook everything for 3-4 minutes. There will be some almost burned looking crust on the bottom of the pot, but it's all good. Add 1 cup of water and cook for a minute or so until water evaporates.
4. Add cooked onions and tomato puree and mix to combine. Scrape bottom of the dish to remove all the "burned" spices and mix them into the sauce.
5. Place cashew nuts and milk in the food processor and blend until it forms very smooth paste. If it's too dense, you can add a little bit more milk. Add cashew paste to the chicken and cook everything on a very low heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring from time to time.
6. Add Greek yogurt, cook for 1 more minute, garnish with cilantro and enjoy with Basmati rice!

   I could eat this dish for breakfast, lunch and dinner.... no kidding! Sometimes I make it with chicken tights rather than the breast - it's really good as well. To be honest, you could probably put a piece of shoe lether in this sauce and it would be delicious!

Enjoy,
Magda

Hiding veggies!

   If you are thinking that this post will be about hiding veggies so your kid will eat them, you are wrong! My son loves his veggies, especially broccoli, asparagus and cauliflower - no need to hide anything. But I do have to hide them if I want my husband to eat them! Yes, that's right, I trick a thirty something year old man to eat veggies! He usually knows that they are hidden somewhere in the dish, but because I make it impossible to pick them out or leave out on the plate... all the veggies end up being eaten! Hey, there could be worse things I could be tricking my husband to do, so I absolutely don't feel guilty about this one!
This time I hid broccoli and bunch of herbs in the sauce that covered Justin's beloved chicken, served it over his favorite Basmati rice (to give him some incentive to eat it) and ... he loved it! Winning!

Ingredients:

* 2 large chicken breast, cubed
* 1 large onion
* 0.5 bunch of cilantro, large stems removed
* 1 small bunch of fresh dill, large stems removed
* 2 cups of broccoli florets 
* 1 garlic clove
* 1 lime, juice
* 2 tbsp butter
* salt and pepper

* Basmati  rice, cooked

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, melt butter and sear chicken breast until lightly browned.
2. In the meantime, in the food processor, combine broccoli, onion, garlic, cilantro and dill. Run the processor adding a little bit of water (2-3 tbsp) until the sauce is smooth.
3. Add the sauce to the chicken, season with salt and pepper and cook for 10 minutes.
4. Add lime juice to your liking. Serve over Basmati rice.

   What a vibrant color and an amazing aroma!
   Depending on the amount of water you add, the sauce might be more or less thick, but if you don't like the consistency, either add some more water or cook it for longer to reduce it. If you go overboard with water, add a little bit of cornstarch  and it will nicely thicken it(I know, it's cheating, but sometimes it's unavoidable!).

Enjoy,
Magda

I'm bringing chicken back!

   It's been a while since I cooked some meat and I think it was high time for some chicken breast. I actually had some in the freezer, waiting to be used, and since I didn't really know what else to make - chicken it is. Simple, quick, and with only a few ingredients, it doesn't get any better that that. Check out this baked chicken breast with herbs of Provence and black sesame seeds:

Ingredients:

*  2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
*  2 tbsp herbs of Provence
*  1 tbsp black sesame seeds
*  1 tbsp olive oil
*  salt

Directions:

1. Wash chicken breast under cold water, tap dry with a paper towel and place in a baking dish.
2. Coat chicken with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, herbs and sesame on both sides (a little bit more on the top), and bake at 400F for 30 minutes.

 
   I love herbs of Provence. I think it's because my mom uses them a lot and I just have them in my blood. The chicken is so juicy and tender and I have to admit I missed it a little bit.

Enjoy,
Magda

Recipe swap.

   This is a dish that I made long time ago (before the vegetarian approach) and I never had a chance to post it. It's so simple and delicious that I think everybody who eats meat should try it at least once... I promise you won't be disappointed! Me and my friend Shannon always share and swap recipes and ideas for some great family meals. Recently she bought a "Flat Belly Cookbook" and she tried out few of their recipes and liked them a lot. One of them, an Indian chicken with a cilantro and cashew sauce, sounded like something I would love, so I decided to try it as well. Quick, easy, healthy and delicious. Only a few ingredients, but lots of flavor, I'm sure you will like it. The recipe serves 4:

Ingredients:

*  1 lb chicken breast, cut into long thin strips
*  1 cup cilantro (packed)
*  1/2 cup cashew nuts
*  1 cup chicken broth
*  salt and pepper
*  juice of 1 lime

*  rice

Directions:

1. Place cilantro, cashews and chicken broth into a food processor and blend until smooth.
2. Transfer into a skillet and start cooking. When the sauce is boiling, add chicken and cook for 10-15 minutes until chicken is completely cooked. If the sauce is too thick add more chicken broth or water.
3. Season with salt and pepper, add lime juice and serve with rice.

   Smooth, creamy, light sauce paired with lean chicken is a great combination. You can also add red pepper flakes if you like some heat, but since I'm not a heat fanatic I decided to skip them all together. I think it might be one of my favorite quick chicken dishes... Justin loved it too.

Enjoy,
Magda.

Healthy doesn't mean boring!

   Are you trying to eat healthy, but you are running out of ideas for new and exciting dishes? Here is something you might be interested in... chicken and spinach wraps with Greek yogurt sauce! No mayo, no fatty ingredients, no chips on the side... just fresh veggies and a lean chicken breast. We usually make a big batch of it, store it in the fridge, and eat it after jogging. It's a great, protein-rich meal that will satisfy you without feeling guilty! Here is the recipe (serves 6):

Ingredients:

Salad:
*  2 chicken breast, cooked and cubed
*  5 celery sticks, chopped
*  1 red bell pepper, chopped
*  1/2 cup dried cranberries
*  1 bag baby spinach leaves

Dressing:
*  1 cup plain, fat-free Greek yogurt
*  1/2 cup honey mustard
*  2 tbsp agave nectar (or honey)
*  salt and pepper

*  6 large whole wheat spinach tortillas

Directions:

 1. In a large bowl combine chicken, celery, bell pepper and cranberries. Roughly chop the spinach leaves and add to the chicken.
2. In a separate bowl combine yogurt, mustard, agave nectar and season with salt and pepper. Mix well.
3. Add dressing to chicken salad and mix everything together.
4. Place a big spoonful on a spinach tortilla (or any kind you like), wrap the filling inside, cut in half and enjoy.

   I can't think of anything easier than that if you want a delicious and nutritious lunch (or dinner). Packed with vitamins and proteins, its the perfect meal after a hard workout ... or in front of TV, your choice!

Enjoy,
Magda.

Big Bird!

   No, not a turkey... that's reserved for Thanksgiving... I'm talking about a chicken! Rotisserie chicken (next to pizza), is one of our favorite "don't-feel-like-cooking" or "want-something-comforting" dinner ideas. All you need to do is pick up one on the way from work and you have a hot, delicious dinner on the table in no time. It's not necessarily much cheaper to make one at home, but it's definitely hundred times better, moister, and more flavorful... and knowing "what's in it" doesn't hurt either. Add some veggies, herbs, citrus and a beer, and you got yourself amazing roasted chicken.

Ingredients:

*  whole chicken (about 6 lbs)
*  6 tbsp butter, room temperature
*  2 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
*  1 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
*  1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
*  1 tbsp seasoned salt (or more if you like it saltier)
*  1 tbsp garlic powder
*  1 orange
*  3 medium potatoes, cut into 4 pieces
*  2 carrots, cut into 4 pieces
*  1 large onion, cut into 8 segments
*  1 bottle of beer

Directions:

1. Rinse the chicken under cold running water, pat dry with paper towel and place in a large baking dish.
2. Combine butter with rosemary, thyme, mint, garlic powder, seasoned salt and orange zest. Mix well.
3. Tuck the wings under the chicken, place halved orange in the cavity, and tie the legs together loosely with the kitchen string. 
4. Loosen the skin over the chicken breast and smear the butter mixture over the outside and under the skin of the chicken, being careful not to tear the skin.
5. Arrange the vegetables around the chicken and pour the beer into a baking dish. 
6. Cover the chicken with aluminum foil (loosely) and bake at 400F for 60 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 60 more minutes, until it's golden brown. 
7. Remove from oven and let is stand for 15-20 minutes before cutting into it, so the juices can redistribute. 

   So juicy, so flavorful and so delicious.  I ate half of the carrots before I even got to carving... and Justin finished the second half a minute I turned around. Rotisserie chicken from the store might be much faster, but you can't beat the flavor of a home-made one. Try it one weekend, and you will never go back to the store-bought kind.

Good luck,
Magda.
 

New favorite...

   ... pizza! Yes, we have found yet another pizza that we fell in love with right away. Actually, Justin found it by accident in a frozen section of a supermarket and took it as an "emergency" dinner! Little did we know, it turned out to be awesome! Chicken 'n Bacon Ranch Pizza... sounds good, doesn't it? Justin is so proud of his "finding" and he is not shy about bragging about it every time we eat it! Well, I do have to give it to him, it is a great find! I decided to make a home-made version of it, mostly to challenge myself, because you can find it everywhere and it's super cheap, but it's nice to make it yourself (and pile a mountain of chicken on it)!

Ingredients:

*  Pillsbury refrigerated pizza dough
*  1 tbsp olive oil
*  1 large chicken breast, cooked and cubed
*  10-12 slices of turkey bacon, coarsely chopped and crisped
*  1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
*  3/4 cup fat-free ranch dressing
*  2 tbsp fresh chopped parsley

Directions:

1. Roll the pizza dough on a baking sheet, brush with olive oil and bake at 425F for 5 minutes.
2. In a bowl combine cubed chicken, crisped bacon, ranch dressing and half of the mozzarella cheese. Spread on pre-baked dough, sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake at 425F for 10 more minutes (or until crust is golden brown).
3. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

   Do you see the amount of toppings on this baby? Oh, I wasn't shy about them... and that's the advantage of making your own pizza, you can "customize" it however you want to and you don't have to fight for the only piece of chicken that's on it!

Finger licking good!

   Well, to be honest it's not only finger licking good, but skillet/spoon/plate licking good... and if I dropped it on the floor...I'm afraid it would be floor licking good too (did I go too far?). I am talking about chicken liver pâté... oh, what are those looks for? It's not that bad, actually just opposite, it's amazing (the title)! Yeah I know it's hard for somebody who is not a fan of liver (if you could only see Justin's evil look that he gave me when I said I'm making it), but trust me, it's so smooth and flavorful and when you spread it on a crunchy slice of baguette - you will be in heaven! Even Justin enjoyed it, I'm not sure he was in heaven, but he ate a fair share of it! Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

*  2 lbs chicken livers
*  1 large onion, finely chopped
*  2 garlic cloves, minced
*  1 stick of butter (8 tbsp)
*  5 bay leaves
*  6 all spice berries
*  1/3 cup white wine
*  1/2 tsp ground thyme
*  salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Clean chicken livers from excess fat and membranes. Rinse under cold water, drain and set aside.
2. In a skillet, melt 1 stick of butter and saute onions and garlic with salt, pepper, thyme, bay leaves, and all spice berries until cooked and soft (8-10 minutes).
3. Add cleaned livers and cook until brown, firm and completely cooked through (about 10 minutes).
4. Add white wine and cook for 5-6 minutes to reduce the liquid by half.
5. Remove bay leaves and all spice berries, transfer into a food processor and blend until smooth.
6. Transfer into ramekins and chill in the refrigerator for over night (or at least 4-5 hours).

   Call it poor man foie gra, I'll take it! It's so good! A little bit bitter, smooth, and creamy! I always eat it with bread or crackers, and a slice of dill pickle... I don't know what it is about this combination, but it just works. Try it... even Justin liked it!

Good luck,
Magda  

Sexy legs!

   No, not mine...the chicken's! I love chicken legs! I am definitely a dark meat lover, which is another example why me and Justin are the perfect marriage... he loves white meat and I love dark... this way no part of the chicken is wasted in our house! We don't have to fight for the same piece of meat, like I used to fight with my sister for a leg (yes, I know, usually chickens have two legs... but my father, unfortunately, liked them too!). To make drumsticks sexy (like they need sexing up!) I prepared them in a luscious, silky, coconut and curry sauce and cooked them until the meat got super tender! I know you agree with me that it sounds sexy... wait until you try it! Here is the recipe (serves 4):

Ingredients:

*  8 chicken legs (drumsticks)
*  1 large onion, chopped
*  1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
*  2 garlic cloves, minced
*  15 oz can coconut milk
*  16 oz can tomato sauce
*  1 tbsp turmeric powder
*  1 tbsp curry powder
*  1 tbsp coriander powder
*  1 tsp ground ginger
*  1 tbsp brown sugar
*  2 cups chicken broth
*  vegetable oil
*  salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Coat the bottom of Dutch oven with vegetable oil and heat to a high temperature.
2. Dry chicken legs with a paper towel, sprinkle with salt and pepper and brown on both sides (3-4 minutes each). Remove from the pot and set aside.
3. To the same oil add chopped onions, garlic and cilantro. Cook for 2 minutes.
4. Add turmeric, curry, coriander, ginger and brown sugar, and cook stirring constantly for about 3-4 minutes.
5. Add chicken broth, tomato sauce and coconut milk, scrape the bottom of the pot, bring to boil.
6. When the sauce is boiling, return chicken legs to the pot, cover with the lid, transfer into the oven and bake at 350F for 1 hour.

   It's the best served with Basmati rice (or any rice for that matter), a perfect vehicle for this delicious, silky sauce. Chicken is juicy and tender, practically falling of the bone. Such a comforting dish!

Enjoy,
Magda.

Easy enough?

   Recently one of my friends asked me if any of my blog recipes are easy enough for her to make them? What? All my recipes are super easy and not complicated. And to prove my point I decided to make a 4 ingredient, under 30 minute, fancy enough to serve to your guests, chicken dish that is easy enough to make in the middle of the week just for yourself. And if somebody doesn't think this recipe is easy, I don't know what is. Check this out:

Ingredients:

*  8 chicken tenders
*  8 slices Prosciutto
*  8 leaves fresh sage
*  1 tbsp olive oil

Directions:

1. Coat chicken tenders with olive oil. Place one leaf of fresh sage on the top of each tender, wrap Prosciutto slice tightly around chicken.
2. Place in a baking dish and bake at 425F for 15-20 minutes.

   This dish doesn't even require salt or pepper! The Prosciutto is salty enough on its own and baking it concentrates the salt even more, so you don't need to add any (trust me I made this mistake the first time I made this dish). Wrapping the chicken in a "piggy" blanket prevents it from drying and keeps it moist and tender. You can serve it with a salad or a side of delicious mashed potatoes.

Enjoy,
Magda

Mexican note!

   We love Mexican food! There is something special about the spice blend and flavors of this cuisine that just makes it super addictive. Mexican restaurants are, next to Chinese take-outs, one of our favorite "go-to" places when we are craving something "bad". I mean what's not to like, great prices, great flavors and big portions! Oh and lets not forget about a bucket (or two) of tortilla chips and salsa! And those chips are exactly the reason why we try to avoid going out there too often, they just awake the animal instincts in us! So to avoid chips chow down, I make my own version of "Mexican" enchiladas... at least nobody sees how many of them we can eat :)). Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

*  20 corn tortillas
*  1 chicken breast, cooked and shredded
*  2 cups cooked rice
*  1 15oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
*  1 cup fresh chopped cilantro
*  2 10oz cans enchilada sauce
*  1 package McCormick enchilada spice
*  1 cup shredded cheese

Directions:

1. In a bowl, combine chicken, rice, black beans, cilantro and enchilada spice.
2. Cover the bottom of a baking dish with 1 can of enchilada sauce.
3. Warm corn tortillas in a microwave so they wont crack.
4. Fill each tortilla with about 1/4 cup of the chicken mixture. Roll the tortilla tightly and place seam-side down in the baking dish.
5. Pack all enchiladas tightly next to each other, cover with the remaining sauce, sprinkle with cheese and bake in 350F for 20 minutes.

   Such an easy, fast and delicious dish. If you like your food spicy you can add some hot sauce and serve it with some sour cream... perfect combination!

Enjoy,
Magda.

Who doesn't love gadgets?

   Recently I got all bunch of fancy kitchen gadgets from my husband, so I had no choice rather than come up with a dish that would require using some of them. I chose two of my favorite things from the pile: a nice and new zester and a "citrus-juice-squeezer" and decided to make a lime chicken with a creamy sauce. Man, I did not know you can get so much juice out of a lime! I always thought I am a strong girl and can squeeze the last drop of juice out of the fruit with my bare hands, but boy was I wrong! This little metal thing is pretty powerful, and I love it! Here is the recipe for my last minute, simple lime chicken (serves 4):

Ingredients:

*  1 chicken breast, cubed
*  2 limes
*  1 large onion, chopped
*  2 tbsp flour
*  1 1/2 cup fat-free milk
*  1 cup fresh chopped parsley
*  pinch of nutmeg
*  1 tsp black pepper
*  salt
*  1 tbsp olive oil

Directions:

1.  In a skillet, heat the olive oil and saute onions until translucent (4-5 min).
2. Add chicken, salt and pepper, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add zest of 2 limes and juice of 1 lime and cook everything until chicken is no longer pink inside (6-7 minutes).
3. Add flour, cook for 2-3 minutes, add milk, nutmeg, mix everything together and cook for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens. Add fresh parsley and serve with rice or pasta.

   Saucy, limy and peppery, that's how you can describe this dish... oh, and fast and easy, too! It's not heavy, it's not too intense, it's just perfect refreshing quick dinner!

Enjoy,
Magda.

Vietnamese memories.

   We all have our favorite restaurants. They don't have to be super fancy or to be the best restaurants in town, but they are special to us for one or another reason. There was (maybe still is) this "Vietnamese" place in Krakow, where me and my sister Dorota used to go all the time. We would order this chicken dish (I don't even remember the name of it), which was absolutely the best (and the cheapest) dish ever. Every time we would want comfort food, we knew where to go. I almost forgot about it, but then my sister found a "Vietnamese chicken" recipe on one of the cooking blogs and she said I have to try it! Oh, she was right, this dish is definitely a must to try. Sweet, salty, spicy and very, very similar to the dish from our favorite restaurant. Check out the recipe (serves 4):

Ingredients:

*  2 chicken breast, cubed
*  1 large onion, thinly sliced
*  1/4 cup soy sauce
*  1 tbsp olive oil
*  2 tbsp sugar

Spice blend:

*  1 tsp garlic powder
*  1 tbsp sweet paprika powder
*  1 tbsp smoked, spicy paprika powder
*  1 tbsp curry powder
*  pinch of salt 

Direction:

1. In a bowl combine all the spices (garlic powder, paprika, curry and salt). Toss the cubed chicken breast and coat all the pieces piece.
2. In a skillet, heat the olive oil, add sugar and cook for 1-2 minutes to create the caramel. Add spiced chicken and cook everything together for 6-7 minutes making sure that all the pieces of chicken are coated with caramel (you can add some water in necessary).
3. Add thinly sliced onions and soy sauce and cook for 3-4 more minutes. 
4. Serve it with white or brown rice.

   Sweet, spicy, and a little bit exotic. The caramel and soy sauce gives it a nice and rich brown color. Smoky paprika and curry give it a kick and an exotic flavor. It definitely brings back the memories of our favorite comfort restaurant. 

Enjoy,
Magda